Serodiagnostic value of extracellular antigens of an actively proteolysing culture of Candida albicans (immunodiffusion-test).

Cell-free, dialysed and concentrated culture filtrate of a Candida albicans strain, after proteolysis in serum-protein medium (bovine albumine), and after growth in Sabouraud glucose broth (for comparison) were used as antigens for the detection of precipitating antibodies in 558 samples of serum originating from defined groups of patients and healthy persons serving as controls. The differing distribution of antibodies against these two antigens as observed in the various groups of our patients calls for further studies of such antigens on the basis of proteolysis within the serodiagnostics of Candida albicans-mycoses.